Tripura acts tough on witch hunt

Agartala: The Tripura government is determined to weed out witch hunt, the practice of killing women after branding them sorceresses.

“In the recent past, four tribal women were killed and two others critically injured on suspicions that they practiced sorcery and witchcraft,” Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told the state legislative assembly explaining his government’s intention to take tough measures against the menace.

The government has asked the civil administration, including police, to become more proactive and tough. Sarkar, who holds the home portfolio, said the government has asked officers to take quick and appropriate action against those involved in killing innocent tribal men and women.

Northeastern Indian states have witnessed several such murders, especially in their tribal pockets of western and northern Assam and Tripura, reported in the Business Standard.

Many tribal communities practice indigenous faiths and resort to such rituals in treating ailments in their communities.

Cutting across party lines, the legislators expressed concern over such killings.

Opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath said that the police have not registered many cases as the tribals are not so familiar with the system.

According to the chief minister, the killings were driven by superstitious beliefs.